In the event, after much anticipation and speculation The Chancellor has announced little which will directly affect the Cotswolds residential property market.

The Cotswolds hums with activity in the run up to Christmas with Christmas Markets and Fairs popping up in many of the villages and market squares.

As we head into October, the 2024 eventing season is drawing to a close, with the last couple of events left to go for some of the younger horses. Many of the older horses have already started their winter holidays, where they get an eight week break out in the fields. 

BLACKLION is a crisp and flavourful 40% abv vodka, with a full body, an impossibly smooth finish and warming afternotes. Every delicious bottle is made in the Cotswolds, using milk from Tim & Tan’s much-loved flock of Black Lion sheep.

The volume of farmland for sale in the first half of 2024 was about 30% higher than the same period in 2023. According to industry indexes the average value of arable land is now just under £10,000/ac and just under £8,000/ac for pasture.

At the beginning of 2024, I decided to sign up with a group of 25 others to head off to the Atlas mountains in Morocco and take part in an Ultra Marathon on the 12th of September. This will cover 52 miles over two days with some camping thrown in.

Moreton Show celebrates it’s 75th anniversary this year, and Butler Sherborn is delighted to welcome all Members of the Show into the Member’s Marquee.

The Old Kennels, on the edge of Cirencester Park, will see a new addition to this burgeoning foodie hub, with the launch of brand, new pizzeria, Cattivo, on Friday 2nd August 2024 from 3pm.

Butler Sherborn is currently marketing several new conversions of Cotswold stone buildings with previous uses, from a farmyard with barns to an old coaching inn.

The Five Alls in Filkins has been taken over and fully refurbished. Formerly general manager of The Crazy Bear hotels and restaurant in Stadhampton, Tom took over The Five Alls in February this year and has since recruited general manager, Robert Wilks, and new head chef, Lucian Juganaru.

Four fine country homes to aspire to - new on the market with Butler Sherborn from £1.1million - £4.25million

We are now in campaign season, gearing up for the General Election on the 4th July 2024 – which was announced earlier this month . However, what happened to the long talked about Renters Reform Bill?

Today the most famous event in the world, The Mars Badminton Horse Trials, has begun. It has been a challenging start to the season, with any number of the early season events being cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

The extremely wet weather experienced throughout the past six months in the UK has resulted in serious difficulties for farmers across the nation and the Cotswolds is not exempt. 

Defra has been reviewing the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) to ensure that the scheme is effective and not used too heavily across the farming industry, in a way that compromises the environment, food production and food security. 

I am delighted and proud to announce that we will be working alongside locally renowned estate agent, Butler Sherborn, The Cotswolds Property Specialist. Claire Halstead Interiors will be offering sellers and prospective buyers alike, a personal and individualised ‘House Moving Service’.

Three new-on-the market country homes from £695,000 - £1.25million and 10 top Cotswold farm shops and farmers’ markets.

The Cotswolds have the most trainers in one area of the United Kingdom outside Newmarket, and with Cheltenham as the home of jump racing, it is the best place to look for your top tips.

The start of the 2024 eventing season is now just around the corner, with our first event, Poplar Park in Suffolk, on 2nd March. The ground over on the east coast is very sandy and well drained, so holds up well to the rain in March.

Having been born in the Cotswolds, educated at Charlton Park before graduating from The Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, and now working in the Butler Sherborn Stow-on-the-Wold office, I am the complete Cotswold product!

Four new-on-the market country homes from £850,000 - £3.5million - Cirencester voted 5th happiest place to live* - 10 top Cotswold spas, fitness & wellness centres - Market comment from Sam Butler

Kick start 2024 with Life Coach - Cressida Landless. I started The Art of Happiness in 2016 after I had completed a post graduate course in Psychosynthesis Leadership Coaching. Rather than entering the corporate world as a leadership coach, I was drawn to working with individuals who were keen to reach their full potential.

George Butler, reportage and war artist, founded the charity ten years ago in response to the Syria conflict, which he covered. As the eldest son of Sam Butler, it seems apposite to include George’s short item.

After another busy year, Butler Sherborn is delighted to wish all their clients and friends A Very Happy Christmas.

Wet, windy and winter weather … the nights are closing in and the temperatures are beginning to drop. We are now facing another challenging winter, with energy prices remaining strong and war in both the Ukraine and the Middle East having a direct impact on the cost of energy bills.

The Bell, Charlbury has recently been refurbished to offer a traditional 17th Century pub at the heart of the local community, together with a selection of beautifully appointed rooms for those wishing to stay for a night or a few days in the Cotswolds.

Old Puesdown Inn, Compton Abdale, Gloucestershire GL54 4DN - 6pm on Wednesday 11th October 2023 at Russells Barn, The Stump, Fosse Cross, Chedworth, GL54 4NN. Butler Sherborn is instructed to sell, by Public Auction, the imaginative conversion of this historic, Grade II Listed, former coaching inn, Old Puesdown Inn.

A handsome and stylish six bedroom Cotswold house with extensive gardens in the desirable market town of Cirencester - Firwood, Cirencester, GL7 1TX - Guide Price £2,875,000. This well presented house is located in the highly desirable residential area of Somerford Road in grounds of in all about 0.8 acres.

The Sherborne Arms is an historic pub situated in the beautiful market town of Northleach in the heart of the Cotswolds. It is run by Peter Creed and Tom Noest and focusses on good simple pub food with a straightforward wine list and a good selection of spirits.

Set in the heart of the Cotswolds, Sugarboo Extraordinary Cakes is owned by Lyanda Alder, a multi award winning cake artist. Lyanda designs bespoke cakes and creations at the 'Sugarboo studio' in Milton-under-Wychwood.

This traditional Agricultural Society show is the highlight of the year for the Cotswold farming community, and many enjoy catching up with friends immediately after harvest. 

The Big Feastival is now the most popular festival in the Cotswolds. Taking place on Alex James' idyllic Cotswolds farm, Big Feastival brings together music from the UK’s biggest artists, Michelin star chefs, award-winning street food and an exciting array of family activities.

In the current economic climate with interest rates rising and the range of mortgage products expanding, Charlie Huxley can arrange competitive finance and mortgages for a wide variety of residential and agricultural properties. 

The Swan, Southrop is a well established pub, on the village green at the centre of the Cotswold village of Southrop, with a great reputation for excellent food. It dates back as far as 1606, when it was known as The Bake House and served pies and ale to local farm labourers.

The Renters (Reform) Bill which was introduced to Parliament in May 2023, sets out the government's plans to fundamentally reform the private rented sector (PRS) and level up housing quality.
The Bill, as it is proposed, will be the most significant shake up of the private rented sector in England for more than 30 years.

Together with Victor and Nicki Lay’s Gunn Law, Ben has been selected to represent Great Britain on the Nations Cup Team at Millstreet International Horse Trials in Ireland. Team Way Eventing and Butler Sherborn are very excited to see the 9 year old gelding competing at 4* Level, run over the short format.

Park House is a substantial Grade II Listed village house with charming gardens, in the attractive and popular village of Alvescot, set in circa 0.46 acres. It is beautifully presented and offers a great deal of accommodation arranged over three floors.

The Chequers sits at the heart of the village of Churchill surrounded by Cotswold stone cottages, close to the village green and almost opposite the historic village Church of All Saints. The gastro pub is friendly, cosy and welcoming with flagstone floors, wooden beams and candle-lit tables.

An English garden is a beautiful sight to behold. Traditionally, it conjures up the idea of soft pink roses, tumbling honeysuckle, winding paths and an overall sense of countryside chocolate box charm.

Solanche and Richard’s philosophy is to offer ‘proper country food’, wild meats and locally foraged ingredients. Their ethos is to tell the story of their community, the producers themselves and how they have utilised their seasonal ingredients.

CHELTENHAM - AN IRISH SWEEP OR WILL HENDERSON’S HEROES FLY THE FLAG? With the best four days of the National Hunt racing calendar ahead of us, we have a look at the various horses we should put our houses on.

The Halfway House is a 17th century inn in the peaceful hamlet of Kineton above the River Windrush. It is an ideal pub for lunch after a country walk with your children or dog, or as a place to spend a cosy overnight stay.

Guide Price £2,650,000. A simply stunning Cotswold property with spectacular views.

Ben, Associate Partner of Butler Sherborn, looks at the prospects for the coming eventing year. The horses came back in from their holidays just after Christmas, and their pre-season fitness and conditioning work is in full swing.

Vanessa Carter heads the Butler Sherborn Lettings Team, and together they have won the Award for the Best Letting Agent in Burford, Bampton & Carterton. Karen Felstead and Valerija Christensen work along side Vanessa, in our busy Burford office. 

Ben Way MRICS, Head of Equestrian, Sophie Lane and Katy Freeman, senior residential sales negotiators in Cirencester and Burford respectively, have been promoted as Associate Partners of Butler Sherborn, with immediate effect.

With its enchanting villages, the Cotswolds is a wonderful place to spend both Advent and Christmas. Cosy pubs in enchanting Cotswold villages with roaring log fires and hot toddies; carol services in ancient village churches.

After another hectic year, Butler Sherborn is delighted to wish all their clients and friends A Very Happy Christmas.

Richard Greasby is no stranger to running, having completed various Ultra-marathons including a 100km run along the Cotswold Way. However, running in the desert was an entirely new experience both in terms of the terrain and the temperatures.

The Cotswolds is renown for its plethora of pubs, which vary from the traditional drinkers pub with local beers to the gastro pub with a fine dining experience. The Plough at Alvescot and The Lamb at Shipton-under-Wychwood are excellent examples of those pubs offering fabulous local food.

Four perfect Cotswold country homes from £1.75million. As the nights draw in, returning home after a walk to see the autumn colours, wood smoke hanging in the air, muddy boots kicked-off at the door, tired, steaming dogs warming by the fire or AGA and the prospect of tea and hot buttered crumpets, it is good to get inside.

Sue Blacker, an established Fine Art dealer, is holding an Autumn retrospective in her Gallery at Fox House, Holwell with an Evening Preview Reception on Thursday 20th October from 5pm-8pm.

We are all experiencing swift and significant rises in the cost of fuel, and the consequent rise in our utility and housekeeping bills. Inflation is now running at 10%, and predicted to rise further before the end of the year. 

Cotswold artist - Lesley-Anne Doole opens new gallery Milton-under-Wychwood. Lesley-Anne Doole, a local Cotswold artist, is opening a new gallery space on Saturday 24th September, in the popular village of Milton-under-Wychwood at the Alfred Groves Yard.

The Cotswolds offers a plethora of festivals throughout the summer, and especially during the height of the summer holidays.

Often when we visit the homes of our clients, we see the Cotswold paintings of Rupert Aker hanging on the wall. Indeed, some of our team here at Butler Sherborn have also collected his work.

Katy Freeman joined the Butler Sherborn Burford office in February 2020. Having worked in the industry locally for some 20 years, she now runs a small and extremely busy team, covering the area from Lechlade to Burford and out to Charlbury.

On a warm summer’s day in June, there are few more relaxing places to be than in the garden of a country pub, perhaps beside flowing water, with a drink in one hand, and good company on the other.

Potential buyers are increasingly turning to private sales to try and purchase land without it being available to the public. So if you are thinking of selling, should you pursue a private sale or go to the open market?

Set on the ancient wold, with an uninterrupted view over the Evenlode Valley, the beautiful, grassed amphitheatre and splendid Pavilion provide a magical setting for excellent, inspiring, and uplifting entertainment for everyone

Did you know that the UK is one of the most environmentally degraded countries in the world? This is one of the reasons why the concept of Biodiversity Net Gain was introduced by the Environment Act 2021. 

Annually, Burford School enters several teams into the Young Enterprise Organisation’s annual competition known as ‘The Tenner Challenge’. The teams comprise pupils from Year 10.

Head of Butler Sherborn Rural, Richard Greasby extols the virtues of living and working in the Cotswolds. 

The Potting Shed is a highly attractive pub in Crudwell, which offers exceptionally good, traditional pub food in a cosy, contemporary environment. The menus are regularly varied to reflect the local produce available. The ethos of The Potting Shed is creative, British and seasonal. 

As February turns into March, there is a certain air of anticipation at Seven Barrows, Nicky Henderson’s Lambourn yard, as he arrays his battalions for the battle that is The Cheltenham Festival. 

The RPA have recently announced detail of the Lump Sum Exit Scheme details for England, as part of the Agricultural Transition Plan and phasing out of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). The Lump Sum will be available for those who claimed Basic Payment in 2018 or earlier, and any claimants who have inherited land or succeeded to an Agricultural Holdings Act tenancy after May 2018.

In this strong residential market, we need three more members of the Butler Sherborn Team. We are looking for a Business and Finance Manager and a Sales Negotiator in the Cirencester office, and a Lettings Negotiator in the Burford Office. 

The Lamb free house is an 18th Century country pub and restaurant just outside the West Oxfordshire market town of Witney. Located in the small village of Crawley, within very easy reach of the beautiful Cotswold countryside and villages. Blenheim Palace, Cornbury Park, Great Tew Estate and Oxford City are nearby.

Despite national availability of farmland being at its lowest level for years, during 2021 Butler Sherborn had its most successful year ever selling farm and equestrian property. The combined value of all farm and equestrian property that we sold was the highest in our 30 years of trading, with guide prices being exceeded in most sales. 

Secretary & Administrator to Rural Department (Full Time)

Temple Guiting and Guiting Power are two quintessential English country villages, situated in a beautiful and rolling region of the Cotswolds, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

This enchanting tale of love and rescue is set on the Greek island of Ithaca during World War Two. It charts an unusual friendship between an Australian- Greek girl, Nandi and a flying fish, through which Nandi discovers the extraordinary story of her great-aunt, Elena. 

Vanessa Carter started working at Butler Sherborn on the 16th October 2000, in the flagship office based in Burford. Vanessa is now an Associate Partner, Head of the Burford office and the Lettings Department for Butler Sherborn.

The 2021 Eventing season is drawing to a close as Team Way heads to the Young Horse Championships at Osberton this week, for one of the last events of the season. We have had a really good season, with many of the horses stepping up levels, and some very smart young horses coming through. 

We are very grateful to Butler Sherborn for their continued support of Sport at Burford School. Their sponsorship has allowed us to continue to raise standards, and further encouraged the sense of pride that our students feel in their school.

6 The Mansion, Northwick Park, Gloucestershire, GL56 9DS - £850,00
Once owned by Captain George Spencer Churchill, Sir Winston Churchill was a frequent visitor.
Ideally suited to those living in London or overseas wanting a ‘lock-up and leave’ apartment in such an impressive building, or parents with children at boarding school nearby

Country Houses range in size and character, from farmhouses to larger manor houses up to mansions, often (but not always) with some additional land, buildings and other property.

Four great Cotswold properties new on the market this autumn from £795,000 - £1.25m and 10 highly recommended gastro pubs across the region